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Topic: 3 ID's : Walsh Walsh Pompeian (Read 4351 times)

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There are at least three ranges of bubbly glass of the Walsh Pompeian type found in the UK. Summary:

1a. Walsh Pompeian standard production. This is either marked "Walsh England" as Reynolds fig 116, or is unmarked. It always matches in shape and size the Pompeian pattern information found in Factory pattern books "W" and "A" at the end of Eric's book. The colours are always bright and fresh. The pontil is usually neatly ground out and polished. The two examples of what Eric terms "pink" that I have had through my hands are actually clear cased ruby or "cranberry" as collectors have renamed it. All the other colours, including amethyst, are homogenous single colours.

1b. Early Walsh Pompeian trade samples. Not in the Factory pattern books, these rarities are marked "Walsh". Three are known to me, one of which is illustrated at plate 21 (ii), despite the plate's slightly erroneous caption. My example of this bowl has the distinction of carrying the faintest Walsh mark I have ever found, in fact just the central part - "/als".

2. There is an unmarked attractive range of glass similar to Walsh Pompeian being made today. I found it for sale in in the souvenir shops at Arbeia (South Shields) and Segedunum (Wallsend) Roman forts at the east end of Hadrian's Wall, so I imagine that it is probably being sold at Roman sites and museums throughout Britain and possibly in other parts of the Roman Empire. I doubt whether it will appear in any quantity on the second-hand or antique markets, but you should be aware of this. If it was distinctively marked and there was information available as to the origins of the patterns it could become collectable in its own right - cf Harry Powell's travel notebook & Whitefriars' copies of Roman glass, and also Goss crested china copies of Roman pottery. Does anyone know who is making or distributing it?

3.There is at least one other range of such glass which appears from time to time on the British second-hand / antique market. I have no idea of its origins or date other than that it is not Walsh and is probably post-war as green and yellow examples don't react to my UV tester, unlike Walsh Pompeian which sets the curtains alight. Here is an example from stock:

I hope that helps, or at least makes the subject slightly less confusing. ===============================Walsh measurements are reasonably precise. A4810 is shown in three sizes, 8", 10" and 12".

Finally, all the examples I have seen of bubbly crystal-cased ruby / cranberry have been Walsh Pompeian, without exception. I don't think any other glassworks ever made such a combination, not just in Britain, but world-wide. ===============================The shape mould is better known for its use in producing the blank that was cut with Farquharson's designs, such as Kendal A5732 and Leaf A5753. See also Reynolds figs 63 and 65. The pattern book lists it in four sizes, 6", 8", 10" and 12".

Here is a trademarked example of amethyst Pompeian, even deeper and more intense in colour than Reynolds pl. 21 (iii).

Standard image: http://bernard.cavalot.users.btopenworld.com/gm040608a/lg_am_pomp.jpg===============================Walsh Pompeian pattern No. A5128 in what Walsh probably termed "canary" (uranium yellow). If you check the "A" factory pattern book reproduced in Reynolds, you will see that this is a late Pompeian pattern, a contemporary of the rare Pompeian table lamp illustrated in plate 20.

These three images are the copyright and intellectual property of board member paradisetrader. Please respect this.============================Please email me for photographs once the links cease working.

Bernard C. :?

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Happy New Year to All Glass Makers, Historians, Dealers, and Collectors

Thanks for all the replies,I've looked at so many pieces of 'bubble' glass I'm seeing double but just noticed in 20th Century British Glass,page 148,a number of vases with clear bases designed by Keith Murray,am I clutching at straws? from what I've read his designs came in many colours and variations in weight and size,I do like to dream

Keith it's quite hard to tell from your photo. The closeness of the pic isn't really close enough to see the bubbles but is too close to see the real shape of your vase. I don't think the shape matches any on that page, I think the bubbles don't look right, they somehow aren't round and 'watery looking' enough, and I think the casing is too thick on the base (although the casing on the pink one in that pic pag 148 is quite deep admittedly)....but as I say, perhaps that is the photo m

well, honestly I'm the last person who should be commenting ..... but I will anyway The casing on your vase immediately did remind me of my one and only Stevens and Williams which has a markedly thick casing on the base. It's also an incredibly heavy vase. However the bubbles in yours just don't look the same as those in the book to me. Not sure about the shape though either, it's a bit narrow at the base. - but as I said, really, I shouldn't be commenting.m

Please,comment away it's how we/I learn,I agree the bubbles are different and I don't have anything else similar and the ones in the book were the closest I've seen to this one.I'm hoping to get a book on Keith Murray designs,it might help,or not,thanks for looking anyway, Keith,